ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of fibrinogen and classical markers of collagen metabolism [carboxy-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen (PICP) and carboxy-terminal cross-linked peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (ICTP)] in peripheral blood and pericardial drainage after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or heart valve replacement (VR), and to evaluate their relationship with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. MethodsPatients who underwent CABG and/or VR in the Heart Center of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from March to June 2021 were included. Peripheral blood and pericardial drainage fluid samples were collected before surgery and at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery to detect PICP, ICTP and fibrinogen levels, and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative confounding factors were also collected. PICP, ICTP and fibrinogen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsA total of 26 patients with 125 blood samples and 78 drainage samples were collected. There were 18 males and 8 females with an average age of 64.04±7.27 years. The incidence rate of POAF was 34.6%. Among the factors, the fibrinogen level in pericardial drainage showed two peaks within 48 h after operation (0 hand 24 h after operation) in the POAF group, while it showed a continuous downward trend in the sinus rhythm (SR) group, and the change trend of fibrinogen in pericardial drainage was significantly different over time between the two groups (P=0.022). Fibrinogen in blood, PICP and ICTP in blood and drainage showed an overall decreasing trend, and their trends over time were not significantly different between the two groups of patients (P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that fibrinogen at 24 h and 48 h after pericardial drainage, fibrinogen in preoperative blood, PICP immediately after surgery and right atrial long axis diameter were significantly higher or longer in the POAF group than those in the SR group. Multiple regression showed that fibrinogen≥11.47 ng/mL in pericardial drainage 24 h after surgery (OR=14.911, 95%CI 1.371-162.122, P=0.026), right atrial long axis diameter≥46 mm (OR=10.801, 95%CI 1.011-115.391, P=0.049) were independent predictors of POAF. ConclusionThis study finds the regularity of changes in fibrinogen and collagen metabolic markers after CABG and/or VR surgery, and to find that fibrinogen in pericardial drainage 24 h after surgery is a potential novel and predictive factor for POAF. The results provide a new idea for exploring the mechanism of POAF, and provide a research basis for the accurate prediction and prevention of clinical POAF.
ObjectiveTo investigate the morbidity of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients after transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR). MethodsA prospective cohort study enrolled 19 patients who were diagnosed with severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation in West China Hospital from October 11, 2020 to March 1, 2021, and would receive TTVR using LuX-valve for valve replacement. The patients were divided into a PPCs group and a non-PPCs group according to the presence of PPCs. The incidence of PPCs after tricuspid valve intervention between the two groups was compared. ResultsOf 19 patients diagnosed with severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation registered in the database, 17 met the inclusion criteria, including 15 females and 2 males, with a mean age of 68.4±8.0 years. PPCs occurred in 9 of 17 (52.9%) patients. At discharge, compared with the non-PPCs group, the PPCs group had a longer postoperative hospital stay [11.0 (10.0, 17.0) d vs. 7.5 (7.0, 8.0) d, P=0.01], longer ICU stay [72.0 (45.5, 95.0) h vs. 20.5 (16.0, 22.8) h, P<0.01], and more hospital cost [74.3 (65.9, 98.3) thousand yuan vs. 52.6 (44.2, 57.4) thousand yuan, P<0.01]. At 30 days of follow-up, the PPCs group was found that the rate of New York Heart Association cardiac function≥class Ⅲ (66.7% vs. 12.5%, P<0.01) was higher, the six-minute walk distance (170.2±169.3 m vs. 377.9±80.5 m, P<0.01) was shorter and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire heart failure score (40.9±31.2 vs. 80.4±5.8, P<0.01) was less than those of the non-PPCs group. ConclusionPPCs are common in the patients undergoing TTVR and severely affect patients' cardiac function, exercise function and quality-of-life recovery. Proactive preoperative intervention as well as early postoperative rehabilitation management should be provided to those at high risk of PPCs.
Objective To investigate the relationship between miR-3187-5p in peripheral blood and pericardial drainage after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Methods Patients who underwent CABG in the Heart Center of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from March to May 2022 were enrolled. Peripheral blood and pericardial drainage were collected at 0 h after surgery (immediate time for patients to return to ICU from operating room) to detect miR-3187-5p, and perioperative confounding factors were also collected. The miR-3187-5p was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and its regulated target genes were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results A total of 15 patients were enrolled, including 9 males and 6 females with an average age of 65.6±8.2 years. The incidence rate of POAF was 40.0%. miR-3187-5p in pericardial drainage at 0 h after surgery was an independent predictor for POAF. A total of 1 642 target genes of miR-3187-5p were predicted. GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis showed that target genes of miR-3187-5p were enriched in TGF-β, MAPK, Wnt and other classical collagen metabolic signal pathways, which might activate collagen metabolism by negatively regulating SMAD6 and other inhibitors of the pathways. Conclusion This study is the first to find that miR-3187-5p in pericardial drainage at 0 h after surgery is a potential, novel, and predictive factor for POAF, which may be related to the regulation of myocardial fibrosis signal pathways like TGF-β, MAPK and Wnt pathways, promoting the early collagen metabolism imbalance after CABG, increasing the collagen deposition in the atrium, and then promoting the early structural reconstruction after CABG and leading to the occurrence of POAF. The result provides a research basis for the accurate prediction and prevention of clinical POAF.
ObjectiveTo compare the satisfaction and safety of patients undergoing prepectoral breast reconstruction (PBR) versus subpectoral dual-plane breast reconstruction (SBR) with implants combined with mesh after open total mastectomy for breast cancer. MethodsA prospective cohort study on clinical data of breast cancer patients who underwent open total mastectomy and received either PBR or SBR with implants and mesh for immediate breast reconstruction from June 2021 to October 2022 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were performed. The pain scores on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 14, the use of analgesics within 14 days post-surgery, and the incidence of postoperative complications, breast satisfaction, and quality of life during follow-up periods were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 62 female patients were included, with 35 in the PBR group, having an average age of (39.6±6.5) years, and 27 in the SBR group, having an average age of (41.5±9.9) years. The pain scores of the SBR group on postoperative days 3 (P=0.032), 7 (P＜0.001), and 14 (P＜0.001) were significantly higher than those of the PBR group, and a higher proportion of patients in the SBR group used analgesics within 14 days post-surgery (P=0.001). The median follow-up time was 28.4 months for the PBR group and 34.9 months for the SBR group. There was no statistical difference in the overall (P=0.583), major (P=0.526), and minor (P=0.532) complication rates between the two groups during follow-up. One (2.9%) patient in the PBR group and two (7.4%) patients in the SBR group lost their implants (P=0.575). Four (14.8%) patients in each of the SBR group experienced movement deformities and chest muscle pain, whereas no patients in the PBR group had these issues (P=0.031). Encapsular contracture occurred in 5 (14.3%) patients in the PBR group and 11 (40.7%) patients in the SBR group (P=0.023). The incidences of ripple sign (25.7% vs. 3.7%, P=0.033) and implant contour visibility (40.0% vs. 11.1%, P=0.020) were significantly higher in the PBR group than those in the SBR group. At 24 months post-surgery, breast satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the PBR group [(67.9±13.1) points vs. (52.6±16.9) points, P=0.001]. The scores for cosmetic satisfaction [(70.7±13.4) points vs. (58.7±14.3) points, P=0.035] and chest function satisfaction [(70.7±13.4) points vs. (58.7±14.3) points, P=0.035] were higher in the PBR group. No local recurrence, distant metastasis, or deaths occurred in the PBR group during the follow-up period, while one patient of local recurrence and distant metastasis occurred in the SBR group, with no deaths. ConclusionCompared to SBR, PBR is more in line with the physiological and anatomical levels of the breast, effectively avoiding postoperative movement deformities and chest muscle pain, with a lower incidence of capsular contracture, and higher postoperative breast satisfaction and chest function satisfaction. It is a safe and feasible reconstruction method. For some specific patients, especially those with higher physical activity demands, it is a better reconstruction choice.